Adjustable punch head assembly

Abstract

A punch head assembly that includes a punch head including a main body having opposite first and second ends, a longitudinal inner bore, a first passageway extending substantially radially from the inner bore, and a second passageway substantially traversing the first passageway. A ball bearing is received in the first passageway. A pin member is received in the second passageway. The pin member is rotationally movable between first and second positions. A driver is coupled to the punch head and includes a stem extending into the inner bore. The stem has an outer ball engagement surface. The punch head is axially movable with respect to the stem. Axial movement of the pin member in the second passageway moves the ball bearing into and out of engagement with the outer ball engagement surface for adjusting an axial position of the punch head with respect to the driver.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A punch head assembly, comprising:
 a punch head including a main body having opposite first and second ends, and a longitudinal inner bore extending between said first and second ends, said main body having at least one first passageway extending substantially radially from said inner bore, and at least one second passageway substantially traversing a respective one of said at least one first passageway and extending in a direction that is substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the longitudinal inner bore; 
 a ball bearing received in one of said at least one first passageway; 
 a pin member received in the respective of said at least one second passageway, said pin member having a working channel configured to engage said ball bearing, said pin member being movable between first and second positions with respect to a longitudinal axis of the respective second passageway; and 
 a driver coupled to said punch head, said driver including a stem extending through said second end of said punch head and into said inner bore, at least a portion of said stem having an outer ball engagement surface, said punch head being axially movable with respect to said stem of said driver, 
 wherein axial movement of said pin member in the respective second passageway moves said ball bearing into and out of engagement with said outer ball engagement surface of said driver for adjusting an axial position of said punch head with respect to said driver, and 
 wherein said working channel includes a ball securing portion that receives said ball bearing for securing said ball bearing into engagement with said outer ball engagement surface of said driver and locking the axial position of said punch head, and said working channel includes a ball receiving portion that receives said ball bearing for allowing said ball bearing to move out of engagement with said ball engagement surface of said driver and for guiding said ball bearing into said ball securing portion. 
 
     
     
       2. A punch head assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said inner bore has inner threads; and at least a portion of said stem has outer threads engaging said inner threads of said inner bore of said punch head. 
     
     
       3. A punch head assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said pin member has a distal end and a proximal end, and includes an installation channel that is open at said distal end and sized to slidably receive at least a portion of said ball bearing when said pin member is in said first position in the respective second passageway. 
 
     
     
       4. A punch head assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said working channel is spaced from said installation channel, an end of said working channel includes the ball securing portion. 
 
     
     
       5. A punch head assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein
 said working channel includes a stepped portion between said ball receiving portion and said ball securing portion for guiding said ball bearing into said ball securing portion. 
 
     
     
       6. A punch head assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein
 said pin member includes a linking channel that connects said installation and working channels, said ball bearing moves through said linking channel when said pin member is moved between said first and second positions. 
 
     
     
       7. A punch head assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a spring received in said second passageway that abuts said distal end of said pin member, thereby biasing said pin member out of the respective second passageway. 
     
     
       8. A punch head assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the respective first and second passageways are located at or near said second end of said main body of said punch head. 
 
     
     
       9. A punch head assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said second end of said main body includes an access cutout that provides access to said pin member received in the respective second passageway. 
 
     
     
       10. A punch head assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said outer ball engagement surface of said driver includes one or more slots longitudinally arranged on said stem. 
 
     
     
       11. A punch head assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein
 said driver includes a base from which said stem extends and axial movement of said pin member allows adjustment of an axial distance between said punch head and said base of said driver. 
 
     
     
       12. A punch head assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein
 said base is configured to couple to a punch body. 
 
     
     
       13. A punch head assembly, comprising:
 a punch head including a main body having opposite first and second ends, and a longitudinal inner bore extending between said first and second ends, said main body having at least one first passageway extending substantially radially from said inner bore, and at least one second passageway substantially traversing a respective one of said at least one first passageway and extending in a direction that is substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of said longitudinal inner bore; 
 a ball bearing received in one of said at least one first passageway; 
 a pin member received in the respective one of said at least one second passageway, said pin member having a working channel configured to engage said ball bearing, said pin member being rotationally movable between first and second positions with respect to a longitudinal axis of the respective second passageway; and 
 a driver coupled to said punch head, said driver including a stem extending through said second end of said punch head and into said inner bore, at least a portion of said stem having an outer ball engagement surface, said punch head being axially movable with respect to said stem of said driver, 
 wherein axial movement of said pin member in the respective second passageway moves said ball bearing into and out of engagement with said outer ball engagement surface of said driver for adjusting an axial position of said punch head with respect to said driver, and 
 wherein said working channel includes a ball securing portion that receives said ball bearing for securing said ball bearing into engagement with said outer ball engagement surface of said driver and locking the axial position of said punch head, and said working channel includes a ball receiving portion that receives said ball bearing for allowing said ball bearing to move out of engagement with said ball engagement surface of said driver and for guiding said ball bearing into said ball securing portion. 
 
     
     
       14. A punch head assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of said inner bore has inner threads; and at least a portion of said stem has outer threads engaging said inner threads of said inner bore of said punch head. 
     
     
       15. A punch head assembly according to  claim 13 , further comprising a spring located in the respective second passageway, said spring abutting said pin member for biasing said pin member out of the respective second passageway.